The Selangor Shariah High Court, on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital, sentenced four men to six months’ jail, six strokes of the cane, and an RM4,800 (US$1,163) fine for “attempting intercourse against the order of nature”.  

The fifth man was sentenced to seven months jail, six strokes of the cane and an RM4,900 fine for the same offence. Islamic enforcement officers detained the five accused with seven other men during a November 2018 raid on a two-storey apartment, Harian Metro reported. 

“The facts show that there was an attempt to carry out intercourse outside of the order of nature and that it was not in the early stages of preparation,” Judge Mohamad Asri was quoted as saying.

Malaysia is home to 32 million people, where ethnic Malay Muslims constitute more than 60 per cent of the population. It follows a dual-track legal system, with Islamic criminal and family laws applicable to Muslims running alongside civil laws.

Numan Afifi, president of sexuality rights’ group Pelangi, said that the sentencing was “outrageous” and could create an environment of fear within the LGBT community.

The case comes amid growing intolerance towards the LGBT community in Malaysia in recent months. In September 2018, two women were caned for “attempting lesbian sex” in Terengganu.

Earlier this year, a minister and other Muslim groups protested after LGBT activists attended a march for International Women’s Day. 

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